Introduction to Climate

1. What is the biggest storm or extreme weather event you can remember?

2. How did it affect you?3. Where do you think storms get their energy

from?

4. Look at this video of Hurricane Sandy. Notice in which region of the world it originates before it travels up to the East Coast of the US. Describe the climate of this region.

• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Sandy.html

5. Why do you think they lose energy as they move across land?

6. What do you think this cartoon is saying? What might this mean for the future?

Hurricane Sandy

A Hurricane As a System

In your notebook, make a drawing showing how a hurricane is a system.

Inputs Outputs

Energy transformation: Hurricanes change ____________ energy from the ___________ into _____________________________________

ES3B – Climate and Energy

Essential Question: What determines the climate of an area?

Climate is determined by energy transfer from the sun at and near Earth's surface. This energy transfer is influenced by dynamic processes such as cloud cover and Earth's rotation, as well as static conditions such as proximity to mountain ranges and the ocean. Human activities, such as burning of fossil fuels, also affect the global climate.

• Climate is the average of weather conditions over a long period of time (AT LEAST 10 years)

latitude

• Latitude – describes your position on earth relative to the equator– Equator is zero degrees– North pole is 90 degrees– Lacey is 47 degrees

• Higher latitudes generally have cooler climates

Higher latitudes

The Rain Shadow effect

Western Washington Eastern Washington

Rainshadow Effect

Mountains make rain fall on the windward side (Western Washington) so that the leeward side (Eastern Washington) is dry.

What is heat? A better word is thermal energy

• Thermal energy is how much the molecules are “vibrating around” (called internal kinetic energy) at a molecular level

• Thermal energy is a really measurement of the movement of particles (we feel this as heat).

Oceans and Lakes• Water has a high heat capacity• It can absorb lots of thermal energy

without raising its temperature.• During the summer, oceans and lakes

are cooler than the land.

Oceans and Lakes• Water has a high heat capacity• It can retain lots of thermal energy without

losing its temperature.• During the winter, warmer air (thermal energy)

moves from the ocean to the land making it warmer.

• Areas near oceans and lakes have milder climates (warmer winters and cooler summers).

Earth’s EnergyThe vast majority

of all energy on Earth originally comes from the sun.

Earth’s climate is determined by how much thermal energy reaches and is trapped by the atmosphere.

1.Describe how each of the following affects the climate of Western Washington:1.Latitude2.Elevation3.The Cascade Mountains4.The pacific ocean

Greenhouse Effect

• Greenhouses are designed to trap heat so plants will grow in cooler areas or during the winter.

• This is where the name comes from – it is as if our atmosphere is acting as the greenhouse keeping earth warm.

Greenhouse Gases• These are the gases that

cause the greenhouse effect.

• They include: – carbon dioxide– Water vapor– Methane– nitrous oxide– chlorofluorocarbons

(CFC’s)– ozone

• Write possible quiz questions that your notes answer. (At least 6).

• Write a summary of your notes.

Review questionsAnswer in complete sentences:1. Describe how each of the following affects the

climate of Western Washington:1. Latitude2. Elevation3. The Cascade Mountains4. The pacific ocean

2. Make a diagram(s) showing how thermal energy moves from the pacific ocean to and from western Washington in the summer and the winter.

3. Explain where the Earth get’s it energy. How does the atmosphere determine the Earth’s climate?

4. Describe what will happen if green house gases in the earth’s atmosphere increase.

12/4/12

Do Now: Explain what each of the following is:• Manipulated variable• Responding variable• Controlled variable• Validity measureAgenda: Quiz, finish global warning video

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